The Victoria, Leatherhead

A very nice looking pub internally,wood beamed ceilings throughout both bars, Public and saloon, the bar itself serves both rooms. There is an impressive nine Handpumps, in total,but some were doubled up and some vacant,the lineup of beer though was far from impressive,Courage Best, London Pride and Sharps Doom Bar and Atlantic. I opted for the latter only to be told after a vain half pull ,"there ain't any, so settling on a half of the Courage I was soon glad I didn't go for a pint as it was not in good shape and only just drinkable. As mentioned previously this could be a very good pub with a bit of adventure in the beer stakes, but as it stands a revisit is unlikely.

This is a nice old building with low wooden beamed ceilings, some exposed brickwork and a roaring log fire in an impressive inglenook fireplace. Still divided into separate public and saloon bars, the public is a smallish bare boarded room with a dartboard at the end beyond the bar. The saloon is larger and carpeted, seating at high backed settles and regular chairs. This is where the inglenook is located which has a number of horse brasses, brass plates and copper bed warmers attached to the top beam for decoration. Additionally there are a few portraits of classic racehorses such as Mill Reef and Ormonde and there is a nice picture of the Derby from 1858. Other decor includes a large red model of a horse drawn caravan plus a few black and white framed local scenes. To the rear of the saloon is a separate dining room, there is a Thai restaurant attached to the pub and the lunch menus had both thai and english options, very reasonably priced, although I didn't sample. Sausage and mash £5.90, ham, egg and chips £6.90, thai green curry and rice £8.90. There is also a thai £10 quick lunch menu comprising a starter and main. The bar has a number of whisky branded jugs and pewter tankards hanging from hooks, there are two banks of pumps,split between the bars, 4+5, with the ales doubled up. A fairly mundane selection given the number on it must be said, Pride, Doom Bar, Bombardier, Courage Best and Abbot. A more imaginative selection with a local micro or two would make this a very desirable pub indeed. There are signs to a garden somewhere but I didn't take a look.